William Cavendish Gentle Quotations

Use gentle means before you come to extremity, and whatever lesson you work him, and never take above half his strength, nor ride him till he is weary, but a little at a time and often.

No horse therefore is well dressed that is not light in hand; so that an easy and gentle bridle, but firm, is the chief secret to make a horse light.

But what for the generality I call a light or gentle hand, is at the same time as light as a feather, and yet firm, except in extraordinary cases.